Historically Speaking: Walt Disney defied naysayers with Snow White’

Sunday

Jul 7, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 7, 2013 at 7:01 AM

Seventy-five years ago, an unusual film was released, and it almost didn't happen. Walt Disney had been producing nine- and 10-minute cartoons to everyone's delight. They were called “Silly Symphonies.”

RICHARD CURLAND

Seventy-five years ago, an unusual film was released, and it almost didn't happen. Walt Disney had been producing nine- and 10-minute cartoons to everyone's delight. They were called “Silly Symphonies.”

He had an idea that it might be possible to produce a much longer animated film, so he started work on a two or three year project, basing the idea on an old Grimm’s fairy tale of German origin.

As it progressed, Disney's brother Roy, his business partner, as well as Disney’s wife, Lillian, tried to talk Walt out of the project.

Many of Disney’s staff also advised their boss against the idea. Walt was alone on his mission and even had to mortgage his home to help finance the film.

As production proceeded, almost everyone in Hollywood began calling the project, “Walt's Folly.” Originally, the lead female character in the Brother Grimm’s version was but 7 years old.

Walt made her old enough to get married. In addition, there were no dwarfs or small animals in the first version. By now, you must have guessed that we're referring to the iconic animated film “Snow White.”

Disney chose that story because of the possible “gag” opportunities for dwarfs and little animals. Obviously, this was a project never before attempted, but in spite of all the obstacles, Disney trudged on. He paid extra money to staff who came up with unusual “gags;” he engaged a number of outstanding song writers to write songs at important plot changes; he employed a 19-year-old woman, Adriana Caselotti, to be the voice of the main character and a 14-year-old girl to act out the motions of the character to help his animators. Her name was Marjorie Belcher, but you may know her as the female half of the great film dance team, Marge and Gower Champion.

When all was said and done, the film's premier was held at the Carthay Circle Theater in December 1937 with a closed audience of Hollywood celebrities, including Clark Gable, Judy Garland and Marlene Dietrich. At the film's end, there was a standing ovation by the enthusiastic crowd, some of whom had been naysayers earlier. Two exclusive runs of the film took place at Radio City Music Hall and in Miami prior to RKO's general release of the film on Feb. 4, 1938.

Just how historic was this film? Film historians remind us: It was the first full-length animated feature film; it briefly held the record for the highest grossing sound film, and it still exists as one of the top 10 American film moneymakers of all time; it became the first American film to have a soundtrack recording album; one of the seven songs used in the film, “Some Day My Prince Will Come," has become a popular jazz standard performed by some of our greatest jazz artists. The film became a “launch pad” for Walt Disney in moving forward with more feature film productions. The film inspired MGM to produce its own fantasy film, “The Wizard of Oz.”

The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., is showcasing the making of the film in its new exhibit, which will be there until Oct. 27.

Historically Speaking, which appears Sundays, presents short historical stories written by Richard Curland of the Norwich Historical Society in cooperation with society president Bill Champagne. Call the society at (860) 886-1776.

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